The Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) occupies a genuinely unique space in the smartphone market — it’s the only phone under $500 that comes with a built-in stylus, proper waterproofing, and a sharp QHD+ display all at once.
Released in April 2025 at $399, it upgrades last year’s model with a faster Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip, a sharper 1220p pOLED display, full IP68/IP69 water resistance, 68W fast charging, and an enhanced stylus experience. It’s not trying to out-spec flagships. It’s trying to be the most practical, versatile everyday phone for $400 — and it largely succeeds.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) full specs
- What we love — and what we don’t
- How it stacks up against the competition
- Our final verdict
Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) Specs at a Glance
 Display pOLED 6.7″ 120Hz QHD+ HDR10+ · Gorilla Glass 3 · built-in stylus  
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 Processor Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) capable mid-range · Moto AI
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 Camera 50 MP OIS main · 13 MP ultra-wide 32 MP selfie
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 Battery 5,000 mAh · 40+ hours rated 68W TurboPower · 15W wireless
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 RAM 8 GB · 128 GB / 256 GB microSD up to 1 TB · headphone jack
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OS Android 15 · Moto AI 2 major OS updates · IP68/IP69 
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What We Like
- The built-in stylus is the defining feature — and at $399, there is simply no other phone on the US market that offers this. Taking notes, sketching, annotating screenshots, and signing documents all feel natural and precise
- A QHD+ pOLED display at this price is genuinely impressive — sharpness and color accuracy are well above what most $400 phones deliver
- 68W TurboPower wired charging plus 15W wireless charging together under $400 is a rare combination that most rivals at this price skip entirely
- Full IP68 and IP69 dual water resistance is a meaningful upgrade over last year’s model — this phone can handle rain, splashes, and accidental submersion without concern
- MIL-STD-810H durability certification adds genuine drop and shock resistance beyond just water protection
- MicroSD expandability up to 1TB and a headphone jack — two features that budget and mid-range buyers still genuinely value and are increasingly hard to find
- Dolby Atmos stereo speakers deliver better-than-expected audio for media consumption at this price
What Could Be Better
- The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is adequate for daily tasks but noticeably slower than the chips in the Google Pixel 9a and Redmi Note 14 Pro — don’t expect smooth sustained gaming
- The 13MP ultra-wide camera is a real weak link — detail and color consistency drop sharply compared to the 50MP main lens
- Only 2 major OS updates is the weakest software commitment in this comparison by a significant margin — a genuine concern for buyers expecting to keep this phone for 3+ years
- Gorilla Glass 3 on the display feels behind the times when competitors are shipping with Gorilla Glass 5 or Victus at similar prices
- Camera software can occasionally bog down the phone — a recurring Moto G Stylus issue that still hasn’t been fully resolved
How It Compares
| Smartphone | Display | Processor | Camera | Battery / Charging | OS Updates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) | pOLED 6.7″ 120Hz QHD+ | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) | 50 MP OIS + 13 MP UW · 32 MP selfie | 5,000 mAh / 68W · 15W wireless | 2 OS / 3 yrs security |
| Samsung Galaxy A36 5G | Super AMOLED 6.7″ 120Hz FHD+ | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4nm) | 50 MP OIS + 12 MP UW + 5 MP macro | 5,000 mAh / 45W · no wireless | 4 OS / 5 yrs security |
| Google Pixel 9a | P-OLED 6.3″ 120Hz FHD+ · 2,700 nits | Google Tensor G4 (4nm) | 48 MP OIS + 13 MP UW · 13 MP selfie | 5,100 mAh / 23W · no wireless | 7 OS / 7 yrs security |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | AMOLED 6.67″ 120Hz FHD+ · Dolby Vision | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm) | 200 MP OIS + 8 MP UW + 2 MP macro | 5,110 mAh / 45W · no wireless | 3 OS / 4 yrs security |
Category Winners
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Unique feature (stylus) | Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) — no contest |
| Display resolution | Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) |
| Processor | Google Pixel 9a |
| Main camera | Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G |
| Charging speed | Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) |
| Wireless charging | Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) — only one here |
| Storage expandability | Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) / Galaxy A36 (tie) |
| Build & durability | Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) |
| Software & longevity | Google Pixel 9a |
| AI photography | Google Pixel 9a |
Final Scores
| Smartphone | Rating |
|---|---|
| Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) | |
| Google Pixel 9a | |
| Samsung Galaxy A36 5G | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G | |
Should You Buy the Moto G Stylus 5G (2025)?
If you want a built-in stylus on a phone you can actually afford, there is no other option in the US market right now. That alone makes the Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) worth considering — and when you add a QHD+ pOLED display, dual IP68/IP69 water resistance, 68W fast charging, wireless charging, microSD support, and a headphone jack, the value proposition becomes genuinely hard to dismiss at $399.
The compromises are real, though. The ultra-wide camera is underwhelming, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 shows its limits under load, and only two major OS updates is a legitimate concern for anyone planning to keep this phone for several years. If software longevity matters most, the Pixel 9a is the smarter investment — but it costs $100 more and brings no stylus.
For note-takers, students, creative users, and anyone who misses the utility of a pen on their phone without paying Galaxy S Ultra prices, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) fills a gap no other phone does.